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I have chased these birds and a hundred others for several blocks, taking pictures periodically, but knowing I was not making a strong picture. Now I finally have a handful of them right where I want them. F5.0 at 1/500, ISO 800, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

A pair of mute swans keeps its lone surviving cygnet close at hand as they float along the shoreline of Pere Marquette Lake just after sunrise. Mute swans have proliferated in Michigan to the point that efforts are being made to reduce their population. I, for one, never tire of seeing the graceful birds and watching for peak or unique views of them. F2.8 at 1/2000, ISO 1600, 80-200mm lens at 145mm

A great blue heron stands as motionless as a lawn ornament in the yard of a cottage on Bass Lake near Pentwater, Michigan. I have to look twice to make certain the bird is real rather than plastic. F3.5 at 1/2500, ISO 1600, 300mm lens at 300mm

Our friend, Don Nelson, notified my dad and me about a wild ruffed grouse that had befriended him during the last two weeks. Wherever Don went around his yard, the gorgeous bird would follow. After a week, the bird would even climb onto Don's shoulder. Right after I made this photograph, Herkimer (the bird) climbed up onto my camera and posed for an iPhone photo. F2.8 at 1/320, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

This wild ruffed grouse befriended our friend, Don Nelson, last week and I couldn't wait to photograph the beautiful animal. After I made the photograph I had imagined of the bird in some brown ferns, I asked Don if he could get the bird to land on my 300mm telephoto lens. With surprising ease, Don had Herkimer posing on my lens in no time. F8 at 1/125, ISO 800, iPhone

After making a photograph of this red-tailed hawk from several hundred yards away, I drove to within 50 yards of him, got back out of my truck and made this image. Though red-tailed hawks are not as big as bald eagles they are equally beautiful and majestic, especially while in flight. F4 at 1/1600, ISO 3200, 600mm lens at 600mm

Driving down the big hill on Old US31 I noticed a large red-tailed hawk sitting in a tree over Conrad Road. From several hundred yards away I made this image with my 600mm F4 Nikkor lens. F4 at 1/160, ISO 3200, 600mm lens at 600mm

A Red Shoulder Hawk Perching on a Birch Tree

Is it Thanksgiving yet? Turkey sounds really good right now. F4 at 1/2000, ISO 3200, 600mm lens at 600mm

This year on Tuesdays I have photographed over a dozen different bald eagles. My dad and I spot eagles now all the time around Michigan. Of all my eagle photos, this one has the best light. This immature bald eagle was flying directly into the sunlight about 30 minutes before sunset. The young bird was flying over Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club near Mesick, Michigan looking for its dinner. F4 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 600mm lens at 600mm

The male ring-necked pheasant is, from my perspective, the most beautiful game bird in Michigan. This colorful ring-neck tries to hide in the grass at Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club near Mesick, Michigan. With the cornfield behind him plowed under and snow-covered; the colorful bird stands out despite staying motionless. F4.5 at 1/1000, ISO 1600, 500mm lens at 500mm

All I can think of is the Roadrunner cartoon character as this ring-necked pheasant speeds across a Northern Michigan cornfield. The colorful ring-neck is one of the many planted and naturally reproducing pheasants at the 800-acre Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club near Mesick. Thundering Aspens has created one of the best habitats for pheasants in Michigan. F7.1 at 1/100, ISO 1600, 500mm lens at 500mm

Ring-necked pheasants are one of the most beautiful birds in the world. I was excited tonight to finally get a nice environmental portrait of these elusive birds. This guy was heading into a recently disked cornfield to eat some dinner. I photographed him at Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club near Mesick, Michigan. F4 at 1/800, ISO 1600, 600mm lens at 600mm

The sweet little songs of chickadees and other small songbirds always brighten my day. By using my 600mm lens, I am able to bring the birds closer to me visually. This beautiful chickadee was singing in the sunlight this evening at Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club near Mesick, Michigan. F4 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 600mm lens at 600mm

A large family of geese practices synchronized swimming this morning on Bass Lake near Pentwater, Michigan. I really enjoy the repetitive patterns in this photograph. F5.6 at 1/400, ISO 400, 28-300mm lens at 300mm

This elusive hairy woodpecker climbs a tree so fast I struggle to keep the stunning bird in my viewfinder. The woodpecker uses its stiff tail feathers as a prop to be able to climb and cling to the tree. F2.8 at 1/8000, ISO 1600, 300mm lens at 300mm